Resignation notice

[insancerre]

I’ve got a new job but I’ve only given 4 weeks notice which is less than my contract states
What, realistically, can my employer do?
I did work 2 weeks in hand when I started
I’ve been there for nearly 10 years
I don’t know anyone who worked their contracted notice

It would effect future references. What has your current boss said about notice period. Much better if you can negotiate a shorter leaving period. I doubt they will be able to do anything to enforce though.

Why have you given less notice than your contract states?

@BirdyBirdyTweetTweet
Because the new job want me to start in jan

@Oldandcold
I’ve already got references

I was contracted to 3 months notice, I left after a month. There were no repercussions, the only thing I thought they would likely do would be to not pay any holiday I was owed.

I have only come across one or two people in my working life (over 30 years) that have not worked their contracted notice. In both cases, it left a sour taste and they left on bad terms because of it.

It is not worth doing anything as an employer though, theoretically they could sue you for any additional costs they have incurred (such as more expensive temporary cover). But in practise this more trouble that it is worth and I cannot imagine an employer opting to do so.

So no repercussions other than, quite probably, leaving on worse terms than necessary.

In theory they can sue you for breach of contract and recover any loss - as pp said this might be the additional cost of a temp to cover your notice period. However I’d say it’s pretty unlikely they would bother. Biggest risk is reputational - say if you end up working with some of the senior management at another place.

I don't know the answer but I wanted to say well done for the move, especially after 10 years in one job!

@LadyWithLapdog
Thank you!
I’m quite pleased with myself- it’s much less hours but for the same money